For the 2016 Fourth of July celebration, Hampshire couple Bob and Traci Breda, along with their children Madison, Evan, Jake and Presley, brought out red, white and blue bunting, flags and ribbons to decorate their home and their Farmall tractors.
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The family owns two 1948 M Farmalls and one 1952 H Farmall. One of the tractors is currently being restored.
“My dad, Craig, and I became interested in tractors about 15 years ago,” Bob said. “I have owned these tractors for eight years. They are stored in our garage.”
One of the 1948 Farmalls that Bob purchased in Genoa was once used to step off the parade at the annual Sycamore Steam Show and Threshing Bee. The steam show is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year Aug. 11 to 14 at the Taylor Marshall Farm in Sycamore.
Every summer, the Breda family likes to hook up their friend’s hayrack to one of their tractors so the children can enjoy a ride to the Fourth of July fireworks display in Burlington and the Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days fireworks display in August.
When asked why he prefers a certain model, Bob said, “Some people like Fords, while others like Chevys. I like Farmall tractors.”
The Breda family has included the tractors in other holiday displays on their front yard.
“We had skeletons riding the tractors for Halloween,” Traci said. “At Christmas, Santa rode a lighted tractor pulled by a team of reindeer.”
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.